RESPECTED diplomat and business leader Sir John Gray has died at the age of 66.

Born in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire in 1936, Sir John was educated at Blundell's School, Devon, and Christ College, Cambridge.

After National Service in Egypt and Cyprus he undertook research on Arab nationalism at Oxford and Cairo.

This Middle East link was retained throughout his career in the diplomatic service, which he joined in 1962.

Following Arabic language training his first post was in Bahrain, followed by spells in London, at the UK Mission to the United Nations at Geneva, embassies at Sofia in Bulgaria and Jedda, Saudi Arabia.

From 1982 to 1985 he served as head of the maritime, aviation and environment department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before being appointed ambassador at Beirut, serving at the time of the kidnapping of Terry Waite and other hostages there.

From 1988 to 1992 he was Britain's permanent representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, and his final posting was as Ambassador to Belgium.

On retiring to Penarth to live in 1996, he became active in many areas of Welsh public life.

Sir John was chairman of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff, Honorary Belgian Consul to Wales, and had official roles at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the Institute of Directors Wales, Wales Council of the European Movement, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

He was also a member of various other university, consultancy and commercial bodies.